Competitive paddle projectile game



W. HASTINGS COMPETITIVE PADDLE PROJECTILE GAME Nov. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1961 Nov. 24, 1964 w. HASTINGS 3,158,373

COMPETITIVE PADDLE PROJECTILE GAME Filed Dec. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7i 4/ 7i 7/ f0 7 76 7/ A; l

United States Patent 3,158,37 3 COlViPETITiVE PADDLE PROEECTHE GAME Whitney Hastings, Six Acres, Newfield, Middietown, Conn. Filed Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,673 Claims. (Cl. 273-118) This invention relates to a game apparatus. An important object of the invention is to provide a game which like ping pong permits vigorous competition,

with emphasis on skill of eye and muscle, between two T persons but which may be played in a small area, sitting down, and without need to frequently recover an errant ball. Other important objects are to provide such a game which may be played in a living room; which involves no substantial risk to furniture or other room contents from ball or bat movements; which makes possible playing more than one game at a time in a room of ordinary size; which is easily portable; which is playable by and of interest to people of all ages; which retains interest Important novel features provided in preferred embodiments of the invention are trapping end zones in which converging surfaces catch and entrap projectiles entering between them through compression of deformable material.

A further important novel feature in preferred embodiments of obstructors according to the invention are rebound panels defining apertures from the lower edge of the obstructor and with surfaces which have a width, at an angle to transverse, of greater than the diameter of the projectile. Further significant novel features of such obstructors lie in such rebound panels in which the rebound surfaces are of different width from panel to panel, or are not parallel within a single panel, or are symmetrically or asymmetrically mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; and in bounce-back blocks.

Further important novel features of preferred embodiments of the invention are playing zone limiting paddle barrier wires which extend transversely above the playing surface on each side of, and a short distance from, the obstructor, spaced above the playing surface sufiiciently to permit the projectile to pass thereunder but too low to permit passage thereunder of a paddle oriented in playing position.

Additional important novel features of preferred embodiments relate to the character of .the paddles which cooperate with the other elements of the combination.

These paddles in preferred embodiments comprise a bat ortion and a handle portion. The bat portion thereof includes a lower playing surface engaging surface, transversely spaced barrier side wall engaging edges, and an upwardly-extending handle mounting portion transversely intermediate thereof. The handle portion extends from said handle mounting portion, in a direction which has a larger component in a transverse direction than perpendicular thereto. The lower part of the handle portion and an upper edge therebeneathof the bat portion define therebetween a finger-receiving notch adapted to accept the third, fourth, and optionally fifth fingers of the hand holding the handle. Said upper edge is at its ltherebeneath a projectile-trapping end zone or goal.

easily storable and portable form when not in use.

3,158,373 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 "ice lowest part higher above the playing surface than the tops of the side walls, when said paddle is in playing position.

Other -objects, advantages, and features will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. l-is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of game apparatus according to the invention;

FIG; 2 is a sectional view taken at 2 .2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of said embodiment;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views taken at 4-4, 5-5, and 66 of FIG. 3, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the paddle shown in operative position in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken at 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a game apparatus, referred to generally at 10.

The playing surface 12 is made up of the smooth upper surfaces or two sheets of hardboard 14a and 14b. Along the transverse edges of the playing surface rise thereabove barrier side walls 16a and 16b. The height to which said side walls rise above the playing surface is'greater than the height above said playing surface of the center of gravity of the projectile above referred to (to minimize any tendency for the projectile to leave the playing surface except into the trapping end zones), but less than the height above said playing surface of the upper edge of the bat portion beneatth the handle portionof the paddle (which would interfere with play).

At the longitudinal extremities of the side walls 16 are triangular pieces 18, and resting on the upper edges thereof and on the end walls 20 are wooden trapping slats 22, the lower surfaces 22a of which define with the surface 12 In the embodiment shown, the lower surfaces 22a and the sufaces 12 converge with an enclosed angle of about 18, and are spaced about 1%" apart at their most spaced portions, i.e., at the mouths of the goals.

Extending transversely centrally across the playing surface 12 is the obstructor, indicated generally at 30. The obstructor 30 is supported by a pair of edge supports 32 which rest on the side walls 16a and 16b. Each edge support 32 (as best shown in FIG. 4) is secured to a wall 16a by means of screws 34 and 36. Each edge sup port 32 is selectively detachably securable to a wall 16b by means of a pin 33, operating in hole 40 of the edge support; hole 42of side wall 16b, and hole 44 of sheet 14b, in order to permit breaking down the game into more Extending transversely above the surface 12 supported on edge supports 32 are a pair of longitudinally spaced slats 46 which may desirably be of transparent plastic, which define therebetween a transverse slot 48., Reinforcing members 49 are secured to the edge supports 32 and the slats 46 at each end of the latter.

Dependently selectively rotatably mounted in the slot 48 and on the slats 46 are a multiplicity of wooden rebound panels Sila, 50b, 50c, 50d, Slle, and 50]. Extending vertically into each rebound panel from above, and rigidly secured therein, is a pin 52, which extends upwardly through slot 48 and terminates in a threaded portion on which is tightenable a wing nut 54 against a washer 56. When the respective wing nut is loosened, each rebound panel may be rotated about the vertical axis of the pin 52 to any desired location and may be transversely moved along the slot 48 to any desired location, whereupon it may be locked against rotation or transverse movement in use by tightening the respective Wing nut. Each rebound panel has a width in its direction at an angle to the transverse greater than the greatest 'diameter of the projectile used in combination therewith, to facilitate rebound use. The rebound panels 50a and 501 are of less width in said direction than the other rebound panels disclosed, and are oriented so that their width is in a substantially longitudinal direction. The rebound panel 50b is wider and has one rebound surface in a substantially longitudinal direction, but on the opposite side thereof carries two rebound surfaces which are parallel neither to each other nor to the longitudinal rebound surface. While rebound panels 50a, 50b 50, and 50 are symmetrically mounted on their respective pins 52, panels 50c and 50d are asymmetrically mounted, which permits combining angular'rebound with larger eifective apertures.

Centrally dependent in slot 48 is bounce-back block 61 which also has embedded in it a vertically extending pin extending upward through the slot and selectively secured against rotation by a wing nut 54. The opposed bounce-back surfaces 62 extend transversely in the ernbodiment shown.

Longitudinally spaced from the obstructor 30 and extending transversely above the playing surface 12 are a pair of paddle barrier wires 64. These wires are at a height such that the projectile moves freely therebeneath, but no more than a portion of the paddle can pass, when held in playing position. at each end in a downwardly extending portion 66 seatable in vertical blind holes 68 in the side walls 16a and 16b. Three sets of holes are included in each side wall, so that the effective area of paddle activity may be varied if desired.

The projectile in the preferred embodiment is a lacquer- .coated sponge rubber ball 7h having a diameter of about Eire"- The paddle of the preferred embodiment includes a wooden bat portion 70 and handle portion 72. The batportion 70 has a lower edge 74 on which are dependently mounted a pair of yieldable rubber legs 76, which are semi-circular in cross-section and are covered with ordinary pressure-sensitive or Scotch tape 78 to minimize frictional resistance to sliding the paddle on its playing surface engaging lower surfaces. The bat portion 70 also includes transversely spaced side wall engaging edges 80 and 82. The handle portion 72 extends from handle mounting portion 83, which is transversely intermediate of the edges 80 and 82. The handle portion 72 extends in a direction, with the lower surfaces of the tape 78 on the playing surface 12 and the bat portion 76 in vertical position, which has a greater transverse component than vertical component. The exact angle is adjustable by virtue of pin 84 and wing nut 86. A notch is defined between handle portion 72 and the upper edge 88 therebeneath of the bat portion, the notch being adapted to accept the third, fourth, and fifth fingers of the hand when the handle portion is gripped in the manner indicated in FIG. 1. -The bat portion should preferably extend under the handle portion for stability in sliding contact with the playing surface, as well. The lowest portion of the edge 88 is higher than the side walls 16a and 16b when the paddle is vertical and resting on the playing surface, to avoid interference ofthe side wall with the fingers. v I

There is accordingly provided a new game which is very fast, of great interest, fun for players ofsimilar skill whether the latter is on a high level or a low, and available with little outlay of money or space.

Providing rebound panels of width greater than the diameter of the projectile used with them facilitates deception through effective use of rebound. Merely providing apertures leaves little room for deception, since the ultimate trajectory of the projectile can then be easily calculated by mentally aligning the point of impact with the aperture. When the projectile may be sent either directly through the opening without rebound (as indicated in dotted lines at A of FIG. 3) or be rebounded from different surfaces (as indicated in dotted lines at B and C of FIG. 3) or from different points on the same re- Each barrier wire terminates bound surfaces, its final trajectory may not be neatly mentally plotted, so that deception is increased and added skill is useful. Providing for varying both the angles and transverse locations of the rebound panels permits adjusting to fit various levels of skill, as well as changing the character of the obstructor for variety as between people of equal skill. Otf-center or asymmetrical rebound panel mounting not only permits increased eifective aperture size despite rotation of the panel to a position at an angle to both longitudinal and transverse, but increases the amount of the rebound surface area which is effectively usable for rebound purposes.

The bounce-back block permits even further deception in that the hitter may elect to bounce thereagainst one or more times before hitting through the obstructor, further increasing deception in that the exact time of arrival as well as the exact trajectory is impossible of precise prediction by his opponent.

Provision of a transverse slotted member carrying from above the bounce-back block and rebound panels makes for full transverse and rotatable mobility thereof without depressions or other obstructions on the playing surface, whether or not the latter is made integral with side walls and goals.

The game is so fast that the area of permissible play is desirably defined by barrier wires which prevent movement therebeyond of the entire paddle, even though portions thereof may permissibly extend thereunder, which avoids disputes and permits attention to be focussed on play.

The projectile is kept from leaving the playing surface by the side walls, which extend for that purpose above the center of gravity of the projectile, by the projectile-trapping end zone goals, and by the elevation of the bat portion lower edge 74 by the legs 78 (which militates against hooking under the projectile and lofting it). 7

It will be apparent that when a projectile which is round in outer cross-sectional configuration is moved against and between converging surfaces, and seeks to come to rest, certain forces tend to hold the projectile and other tend to expel it. Since either the projectile or one (or both) goal surface is easily deformable, deformation thereof will have occurred. Accordingly, each surface will exert on the projectile, along a line normal to the surface, an expelling force reflecting the tendency of any deformed part to return to undeformed configuration. Resisting this will be forces produced by frictional resistance to movement of the projectile along each converging surface; these forces are exerted on lines parallel to the two converging surfaces. Themagnitude of the expelling forces will depend on the character of the materials involved and the amount of deformation. The

magnitude of the retaining forces will also depend on both those factors (the former will affect coefiicients of friction and the latter areas of elfective contact). The corn verging angle chosen must be related to the materials of which projectile and surfaces are made in such a way that the net horizontal component of expelling forces and retaining forces is in a retaining direction for all amounts of deformation typical of playing conditions. Such a converging angle is referred to herein as a'trapping angle. Means permitting adjustment of the converging angle may be included if desired. a

If desired, the sheets 14a and 14b may be omitted as integral parts of the game apparatus, the playing surface thereof then being provided by the table on which the apparatus is set.

The projectile rebounds from the side walls, but is caught inexorably if it moves without spin into a goal of preferred embodiments, with converging surfaces at a trappingangle, whet-her motion is swift or slow. If entry into a goal is both at an angle and with a spin on'the projectile, it may rebound therefrom. To place a further premium on skill it may be ruled that any such goal reboundcounts against the bitter; such rebound may be avoided by putting some English on the projectile when it is hit, and rebounding it to counteract and take out said English. The presently preferred goal construction has the additional advantages of providing a comfortable arm rest and permitting easy ball removal.

Other means to entrap the balls at the goals, as depressions or pockets or one-way doors, may however be substituted.

-The friction-resistant lower surface of the tape 78 and paddle 70 permits free and rapid sliding over the playing surface in playing the game, which is too fast to permit usual intermediate removal of the paddle from such contact with said playing surface. The rubber legs 76 cushion the action, minimize noise and jarring effect of such impact as does occur, and tend to prevent, by raising the lower edge 74 of the bat portion, lofting of the projectile ofi the playing surface. Making the lowest portion of the edge 88 higher than the side walls prevents interference with play or injury to fingers by the side walls. The generally transverse direction of the handle is essential to effective play. If preferred, if the projectile is made of a relatively non-deformable material, the surface of the paddle bat portion may be made of a relatively deformable material such as rubber.

While a spherical projectile is shown, a cylindrical projectile may also be suitably used, preferably minimizing sliding resistance between it and the playing surface. The projectile cooperates in play with both paddles and goals, as above described. Whenever impact between a projectile and a paddle or goal takes place, one member in the impact produces a greater deformation in the other than is produced in itself, one member being more deformable than the other in each case.

Other embodiments within the above disclosure and the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus which comprises a transversely opposed pair of vertically extending side walls, a longitudinally opposed pair of trapping end zones defining with said side walls a playing area, a transversely extending obstructor apertured from the lower edge thereof intermediate of said end zones, and a projectile having an outer configuration which is a circle in cross-section, said obstructor including a multiplicity of rebound panels, a bounce-back block, and locking means, at least one of said rebound panels being of a width greater than the diameter of said circle, at least one of said rebound panels being of width different from at least another thereof, all of said rebound panels being selectively rotatable about a vertical axis and selectively transversely slidable, said bounce-back block including opposed bounce-back surfaces and being selectively rotatable about a vertical axis, said locking means comprising means to lock all said rebound panels against rotation and transverse movement in use, and means to lock said bounce-back block against rotation in use.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1 which includes a pair of paddles and a pair of barrier wires, each of said paddles having a bat portion and a handle portion, said bat portion having generally flat projectile-engaging surfaces generally vertical in use and dependent legs providing on their lowest extremities contact portions and said bat portions being spaced from said horizontal surface by said legs over most of the transverse length of said bat portions, one of said legs being positioned beneath said handle portion, said handle portion extending in a direction having a greater transverse component than vertical component, each said barrier Wire extending transversely over said playingarea intermediate of said ohstructor and a different one of said end zones at a height above said playing area greater than the height of said projectile but less than the height of said paddles, each said barrier wire defining with each said end zone an area within which one of said paddles may be slidably moved to actuate said projectile in play, and in which at least one of said rebound panels is rotatable aboutan asym metrical vertical axis, at least one of said rebound panels includes opposed non-parallel rebound surfaces, and in which said projectile is an easily deformable ball and said end zone is defined by a pair of surfaces converging away from said playing area in a vertical direction relative to each other at a trapping angle, said surfaces being spaced apart at certain points a distance at least as great as the diameter of said ball, and spaced apart elsewhere a lesser distance.

3. A game apparatus comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side walls, first and second transverse trapping means, a transverse obstructor, a projectile, and a pair of paddles, 'said projectile having a circular crosssection and being adapted for movement over a horizontal planar surface in generally continuous contact therewith, said paddles having bat portions with generally flat projectile-engaging surfaces generally vertical in use to cooperate with said projectile for driving the latter over said horizontal surface and horizontal surface'engaging sliding contact portions to cooperate with said horizontal surface for sliding movement thereover, said obstructor being intermediate of said first and second trapping means and including, upwardly extending from the lower edgev thereof, an aperture of a size to cooperate with said projectile to permit movement thereof over said surface therethrough, said first and second trapping means cooperating with said side walls to define the boundaries of a playing field upon said horizontal surface, each of said trapping means being adapted to capture said projectile and hold the same therein rather than permitting rebound onto said playing field upon entry in play thereinto, said obstructor including, upwardly extending from said lower edge thereof, a multiplicity of apertures, each of a size to cooperate with said projectile to permit movement thereof over said surface therethrough, and including also a multiplicity of rebound panels, said rebound panels being of a width greater than the diameter of said circular cross-section, at least one of said rebound panels having menas adapted to define an acute angle with said obstructor, said means being associated with one of said apertures to cooperate therewith when said projectile is selectively impelled therethrough to change the direction thereof, whereby it is possible to play a fast competitive game in a small area and with extraordinary freedom from need to pursue the projectile after it is out of play.

4. The game apparatus of claim 3 in which at least one of said rebound panels is selectively rotatably and transversely movable relative to a portion of said ohstructor thereabove.

5. A game apparatus comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side walls, first and second transverse trapping means, a transverse obstructor, a projectile, and a pair of paddles, said projectile having a circular crosssections and being adapted for movement over a horizontal planar surface in generally continuous contact therewith, said paddles having bat portions with generally flat projectile-engaging surfaces generally vertical in use to cooperate with said projectile for driving the latter over said horizontal surface and horizontal surface engaging sliding contact portions to cooperate with said horizontal surface for sliding movement thereover, said obstructor being intermediate of said first and second trapping means and including, upwardly extending from the lower edge thereof, an aperture of a size to cooperate with said projectile to permit movement thereof over said surface therethrough, said first and second trapping means cooperating with said side walls to define theboundar'ies of a playing field upon said horizontal surface, and each of said trapping means being adapted to capture said projectile and hold the same therein rather than permitting rebound onto said playing field upon entry in play thereinto, whereby it is possible to play a fast competitive game ina small area and with extraordinary freedom from need to pursue the projectile after it'is out of play, each of said paddles comprising also a handle portion extending ina direction having a greater transverse component than vertical componentrand in 'which said oat 5 portions include dependent therefrom a pair of legs provided on their lowest extremities with said contact portions, said bat portions being spaced from said horizontal surface by said legs over most of the trnasverse length of said bat portions and one of said legs being positioned 10 beneath said handle portion.

UNITED STATES PATENTS McCurdy. Aug. 27, Wallace Oct. 15, Small May 3, 'Hall Apr. 26, Garber Sept. '7, Craig June 14, Towle Oct. 4,

FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Feb. 16,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 158,373 November 24, 1964 Whitney Hastings It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 19, for "or" read of line 28, for "beneatth" read beneath line 36, for "sufaces" read surfaces column 4, line 41, for "other" read others column 5, line 21, after "preferred," insert as column 6, line 41, for "menas" read means line 56, for "sections" read section column 7, line 9, for "trnasverse" read transverse Signed and sealed this 20th day of April 1965.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A GAME APPARATUS WHICH COMPRISES A TRANSVERSELY OPPOSED PAIR OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS, A LONGITUDINALLY OPPOSED PAIR OF TRAPPING END ZONES DEFINING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS A PLAYING AREA, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING OBSTRUCTOR APERTURED FROM THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF INTERMEDIATE OF SAID END ZONES, AND A PROJECTILE HAVING AN OUTER CONFIGURATION WHICH IS A CIRCLE IN CROSS-SECTION, SAID OBSTRUCTOR INCLUDING A MULTIPLICITY OF REBOUND PANELS, A BOUNCE-BACK BLOCK, AND LOCKING MEANS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID REBOUND PANELS BEING OF A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CIRCLE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID REBOUND PANELS BEING OF WIDTH DIFFERENT FROM AT LEAST ANOTHER THEREOF, ALL OF SAID REBOUND PANELS BEING SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS AND SELECTIVELY TRANSVERSELY SLIDABLE, SAID BOUNCE-BACK BLOCK INCLUDING OPPOSED BOUNCE-BACK SURFACES AND BEING SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, SAID LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS TO LOCK ALL SAID REBOUND PANELS AGAINST ROTATION AND TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT IN USE, AND MEANS TO LOCK SAID BOUNCE-BACK BLOCK AGAINST ROTATION IN USE. 